March is the third month of the year and the first month of spring. It was named after Mars (Gr. Aris), the God of war, because the improved weather conditions marked the beginning of the Roman war operations. In Greek, it is called Martios or simply Martis.

March is a transitional month between winter and spring, that’s why the weather can be unpredictable with sudden and abrupt shifts. The weather can be cold and rainy, which is reflected in the saying “March, the skin-scorcher, the log-burner” (Cyp. Martis, gdartis, palloukokaftis) meaning people may need to burn logs to keep warm. Another saying goes “March sometimes laughs and sometimes cries” (Cyp. O Martis pote gela tziai pote klaiei), where the verb “laughs” refers to the sun and the warmth it brings, while the verb “cries” refers to the cold and rainy weather conditions. But, no matter how strange the weather can be “From March, summer starts and from August, winter starts” (Cyp. Apo Martiou kalotzierkou tzi’ ap’ Aouston shimona).

March is one of the most crucial months in agriculture, and rain in March is vital for the crops. This saying “If March brings two rains and April one, happiness to the farmer whose seeds are sown in the ground” (Cyp. Na vrexei o Martis thkio nera tz’ Apilis oullon ena, hara se tz’ in’ ton georgo pos’ i stin gi sparmena) highlights the importance of March rain.

On March 1^st, a local custom encourages women and children to wear the “martaki”, a bracelet made of white and red thread. It is believed to protect the skin from getting sunburned.

The saying “whoever has a precious daughter, don’t let the March sun see her” (Cyp. Aposhi korin akrivin, tou Marti ilios men in dei) captures this belief, emphasizing that the harsh March sun can scorch even the most delicate skin.

Children who wear a “martaki” for the first time are called “protomartoudkia” and they wear seven rows for complete protection from the sun’s rays.

Tsiknopempti (Fat Thursday), Apokries (Carnival) and Green Monday are the most significant customs still celebrated today. Since these holidays fall on different dates each year, they may occur in either February or March.

March is filled with name days, including Saint Kononas’ Day on the 5^th, the Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste on the 9^th, the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos, on the 25^th, Archangel Gabriel’s Day on the 26^th and many more. On the Forty Martyrs Day, it is believed that the weather stabilizes, and in the past, women used to place silkworm eggs to hatch.

The Feast of the Annunciation commemorates the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to a son, who would be named Jesus. As this feast falls during the Great Lent, it is customary to eat fish on this day, offering a tasteful way to celebrate the joy of this great feast.